user
Explain the purpose of the following device: an astrolabe.


assistant
An astrolabe is a device used since antiquity to measure the position of the Sun and the stars, as well as to calculate time and direction. It was historically used in navigation, astronomy, astrology, and other fields of mathematics. The astrolabe enables users to find the latitude and longitude of a specific location, as well as measure the sun, stars, and planets’ angular altitudes. Additionally, it can be used to determine the angular size and position of any celestial object.